Belgian stars bid for place in Final
 Belgium
will bid to secure its first Fed Cup final appearance since
2001 when the 2006 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals
are held on 15-16 July. Seven ties in the World Group and
World Group II Play-offs are also taking place this weekend,
with all the latest news on www.fedcup.com.
Belgium, who upset defending champion Russia 3-2 in the first
round, have nominated both Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim
Clijsters, and will be the strong favourite to see off a weakened
USA team on hard court in Ostend. The Americans are once again
led by Jamea Jackson and Jill Craybas, the heroines of their
3-2 opening round victory over Germany away in Ettenheim.
Clijsters and Henin- Hardenne led Belgium to their only previous
final appearance in 2001 when the team went on to win the
title. Victory over USA will guarantee a home final for the
Belgians.
In the other semifinal, Italy is looking to reach its first-ever
Fed Cup final when it takes on Spain in Zaragoza on clay.
The
Italians, who include top 20 players Francesca Schiavone
and Flavia Pennetta, upset two-time champions France 4-1 in
the first round in Nancy, and will be confident of scoring
another victory away from home. A full-strength Spanish team
is led by Anabel Medina Garrigues. Spain would play away in
the Final, while Italy would be away to Belgium but home to
USA.
The four World Group Play-offs see nations bidding to secure
a place in the 2007 Fed Cup World Group. Wimbledon champion
and world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo leads France against Czech
Republic in Cagnes-sur-Mer; Japan hosts Argentina in Tokyo;
Croatia takes on Russia in Umag; and China faces Germany in
Beijing. The losers of these ties will contest 2007 Fed Cup
World Group II.
Only three of the four World Group II Play-offs will takes
place, after Indonesia was forced to withdraw from its tie
against
Israel in Ramat Hasharon, handing the Israelis a walkover
and a place in 2007 World Group II. Indonesia faces possible
sanctions from the Fed Cup Committee. The weekend’s
ties see Canada host Argentina in Edmonton; Slovak Republic
face Thailand in Bratislava; and Switzerland take on Australia
in Chavannes-de-Bogis. The losers will contest their respective
Zonal Group 1 event in 2007.
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